I lived for many
years as governess in the family of the late Mr. Andrew Vanstone, of
Combe-Raven, and I come here in the interest of his orphan daughters."
Mrs. Lecount's hands, which had been smoothly sliding one over the
other up to this time, suddenly stopped; and Mrs. Lecount's lips,
self-forgetfully shutting up, owned they were too thin at the very
outset of the interview.
"I am surprised you can bear the light out-of-doors without a
green shade," she quietly remarked; leaving the false Miss Garth's
announcement of herself as completely unnoticed as it she had not spoken
at all.
"I find a shade over my eyes keeps them too hot at this time of the
year," rejoined Magdalen, steadily matching the housekeeper's composure.
"May I ask whether you heard what I said just now on the subject of my
errand in this house?"
"May I inquire on my side, ma'am, in what way that errand can possibly
concern _me?_" retorted Mrs. Lecount.
"Certainly," said Magdalen. "I come to you because Mr. Noel Vanstone's
intentions toward the two young ladies were made known to them in the
form of a letter from yourself."
That plain answer had its effect. It warned Mrs.
Pages:
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460